One of our favorite stops was Clarks Range, TN. They had a huge flea market there and just a lot of individual yard sales and markets. Too many to visit them all. A fun side "bonus" was that while we were at the huge flea market there we came across the team from HGTV taping their yearly special covering the yard sale. It was fun to watch them filming and to see them in person. Did we end up on camera. We unfortunately aren't featured but you may see us lurking in the background if we don't end up on the cutting room floor (which I imagine is where we'll end up). None the less, it was a kick!
So what did we buy? Well, we didn't buy any "big pieces" which was really the only disappointment of the trip. We usually come home with a piece or two (or five) of furniture but we thought they were a bit light on large items this summer. Maybe we just didn't see what we were looking for though. We did find more than enough small items to buy. I bought a snail made out of metal parts to put in the yard/garden. One this size new usually goes for around $50 but I nabbed mine for $7, it was my first buy on Thursday at 7:19 a.m. My son collects stoneware mugs and steins from Germany. Those usually run anywhere from $10 on up at an antique store/mall but I got one for just $1, two for $4 each and splurged on the last one at $11, that totals $20 for an average of $5 each. I done good. I love pottery from the 30's, 40's and 50's and picked up three pieces. One is a turquoise blue California Poppy piece that I got for $13 (bargained them down from $18), a creamware rabbit planter for $3 (a steal) and a small creamware dish for $3 (note, wear your glasses when shopping, I didn't have mine on and thought it said $8 and asked if they would take $5, they laughed, told me it was $3 and we had a funny story). I picked up a cool old Retro Red Rotary Phone for 50 cents and the prize for most unique item would go to the porcelain arm/hand I purchased for $12. It's an unused form used to make latex gloves from an old factory. I plan to use it to hold necklaces, bracelets and rings on my dresser (I think). I also collect antique handblown green glass bottles/pitchers/vases and I found two at $2 each. My friend bought a set of six "game" (that's as in birds that are hunted) plates and to protect the innocent (from her husband) I won't tell you what she spent. She also picked up some small items such as crocks for as little as $3 each.
We were gone 3 nights and shopped the sale for two full days. The heat is usually brutal and we come prepared with little fans that spray water on you, hats and wet washcloths but the weather was lovely and we didn't have any problems keeping cool. And the scenery traveling north through Tennessee into Kentucky is beautiful. We passed over the dam at Cumberland Lake and it was beautiful.
The sale is always the first weekend (Thurs. through Sun.) in August so start making your plans for next year now!
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